Do you want to see the most beautiful places to visit in the Apuseni Mountains? They abound in spectacular attractions and tourist objectives. Here you will find all the necessary ingredients to spice up a vacation in Romania.
Places To Visit In The Apuseni Mountains: 15 Tourist Attractions
Peștera Urșilor (Bear's Cave)
The Bear's Cave was discovered by chance in 1975, following a dynamiting in the marble quarry in Chiscau.
It is one of the main tourist attractions in the Apuseni Mountains, where bones over 100,000 years old were discovered. Researchers claim that the cave was inhabited until 17,000 years ago by the cave bear.
Only 3 galleries can be visited, with most of its 1.5 km length accessible only to cavers.
Peștera și Ghețarul Scărișoara (Scarisoara Cave and Glacier)
The Scarisoara Cave and Glacier are located at an altitude of 1165 m and the road to get there reveals dreamlike landscapes.
Unique in the world due to the fact that it houses the largest underground ice block, this is the first cave in the Apuseni Mountains declared a natural monument, since 1938.
The temperature inside it drops below zero degrees even in the summer months.
Peștera și Ghețarul Vârtop (Vartop Cave and Glacier)
Vartop Cave houses an ice block of 1600 cubic meters and here were found the oldest Neanderthal traces in Romania. The cave is located near the Casa de Piatra hamlet and is one of the most beautiful caves in Romania.
Valea Sighiștelului (Sighistelului Valley)
Sighistelului Valley is a canyon of approx 5 km, with vertical walls, natural water pools, and superb waterfalls.
Peștera Micula (Micula Cave)
Micula Cave is located in Valea Craiasa and is one of the most spectacular caves in the Apuseni Mountains.
Groapă Ruginoasă (Ruginoasa Pit)
Climb to the top of the mountain (a 30-40 minute walk) to admire the result of an extremely rare natural phenomenon. It is about the exposure of reddish quartzite layers, following an erosion process.
Ghețarul Focul Viu (Living Fire Glacier)
It houses the third largest fossil ice block in the country, in terms of size. The volume is approximately 25,000 cubic meters.
Cetățile Radesei și Cheile Someșului Cald (Radesei Fortresses and Somesul Cald Gorges)
A cave in an advanced stage of evolution. It perfectly reveals how caverns are transformed into large gorges.
Cetățile Ponorului (Ponor Fortresses)
A superb complex of galleries, crossed by underground rivers that form impressive waterfalls. It has been dubbed by enthusiasts the Everest of Romanian Speleology.
Lumea Pierdută (Lost World)
This area was named so because of its wilderness. In fact, it is a forested karst plateau, bordered by Paraul Sec, Paraul Ursului, and Culmea Gardisoara. Here you will find perhaps the most beautiful landscapes in the Apuseni Mountains.
Cheile Galbenei (Galbenei Gorges)
Galbenei Gorges drain most of the waters from the Padis Basin towards the Beius Depression. Canyons, waterfalls, natural water pools, caves, and many other wonders can be seen along them.
Avenul Borțig (Bortig Shaft)
The Bortig Shaft has a depth of 38 m and a diameter of 35 m. At its base, there is an ice block with a height of 16 m.
Peștera Meziad (Meziad Cave)
Meziad Cave was considered for a long time the longest cave in Romania (4750 m). In the meantime, it has been surpassed by the Wind Cave, which has a length of 47 km. The cave is very spectacular in structure and houses numerous bat colonies.
Detunatele
Detunatele are unique formations in Romania. They are rocks with walls made up of stacks of basalt, forming grayish-black columns. They got their name "detunata" from the noise produced by the columns falling onto the scree at the base. They are located in the Metaliferi Mountains, at the end of a long and arduous road, but it is worth the effort.
Avram Iancu Memorial House
Dubbed the "Prince of the Mountains," the former leader of the Motilor Country was born in Apuseni, in a family of wealthy peasants. You can learn more about his life by visiting his memorial house in the village of Incesti.
Well, these are the most important places to visit in the Apuseni Mountains, in short. There are many other lesser-known attractions and tourist destinations that are just as spectacular. The hosts of Travlocals will be happy to guide you towards them.
